"All right, here's the game plan: We're going to take a
jump-capabile Agammenon-class Cruiser to Strata Mechty. We'll
then drop onto the planet in a shuttle, and we'll get to meet
with the ilKhan at his summer retreat in the Dinju Foothills.
Follow me, ladies," and Eric begins down the circular
cooridor, which leads to the docking collar for a transport
shuttle, and they get in. Eric takes the controls.

"Can you drive this thing?" Serena says over the
starting engines.

"Any day of the week, and twice on Sunday, Serena. Strap
in, umnless you want to get thrown around in the cabin..."
Eric unlatches, and zooms toward a large spaceship, partially
eclipsed by the planet they were orbiting. They see what the ship
that they were driving was: Long, odd-shaped with a rotating
center section and several large engines on the back.

"Shuttle 242 to Destenesu, request docking clearance."

"Destenesu to shuttle, you are authorized to dock on
civillian collar D. Welcome aboard, sir." Eric steers the
shuttle down the large hole in the front of the ship, and
connects to the hull via another collar.

"Remain here, Scouts. I'll be back in about 10 minutes,
after we've completed the jump." Eric exits out the dock
collar, and heads off to port, after closing the hatch. 10
minutes fly, and he is back with a box of some type. "Party
favors, for you. I've been meaning to give them to you, but I
couldn't find 9 of 'em in one place. Amy, your Tactical visor
does the same thing as these."

"What are they?" Rini asks.

"These are Sayain-style scouters. They allow you to see
how bad your foe is and in what direction he is in. Most warriors
wear them over their left ear and eye. Choice in colors, of
course." Eric starts handing them out, and gives them their
choice in colors for view screens.

Eric detaches the shuttle, and drops to the planet's surface.
He picks a meadow in the middle of a forest to land, and parks it
perfectly. "Welcome to Strata Mechty, birthplace of the
clans, and command center for their continued invasion of the
rest of the galaxy," he says, and opens the hatch for them
to step out. "Leo's cabin is about a mile in that direction.
He's expecting me, so he probably left the garrisons away. If not,
we may have to take some out."

"With your scouters and what I've taught you, you cn
never be considered unarmed or defenseless." Eric begins
walking into the forest, and the scouts follow close. about 100'
in, Eric stops dead, pivoting on his right foot. "Clear back,
ladies. I just stepped on a Bouncing Betty."

"What's a bouncing betty?" Rini asks.

"It's a high-explosive land mine that "jumps"
up to waist level to explode once you step off. Amy, think you
can disable it?"

She drops to the ground, and uncovers it using a survival
knife. "Ahh, this is the 4.01 model. I can disable it, but
you'll have to lift your boot, sir."

"How far?"

"No more than 1 cm, or less than 1/4th cm." Eric
moves his foot very slightly, and Amy turns a collar around the
prongs untill it clicks.

"Was that a good click? I haven't played with mines in
years..."

"You can step off, Eric."

"Who ever said service in the MM crews was boring is a
cynic." Trisha says. They continue on, 'till they could see
the front door of a small log cabin. Eric stops them again.

"Another trap, ladies. Claymores hooked to a tripwire
detonator."

"Tension mechanism?" Tiffany asks.

"Looks like it, which precludes cutting the wire. Any
local rocks someone can sling at it?" Everyone starts
checking the ground around them, and finds none. "Trisha,
cut off that limb that is above you, and sling it 15' in that
direction." She uses her sword to cut down the limb, and
throws it like a javelin. The end of it catches the wire, setting
off about 10 claymores hooked to beautiful Ponderosa Pines. Once
the trees fall, they continue onward to the cabin, everyone on
guard for any more signs of traps. They reach the house without
further ado.

"How do we get in?" Trisha asks.

"Knock. Any volunteers? Khan Showers has been known to
shoot at people at his door when drunk." he pauses, and when
none respond, he continues. "K. I'll do it, then. *Tek Armor
Control, lv. 3: Mirror Shield, Left Gauntlet*" he approaches
the door, and knocks. True to his guess, a blaster was fired
through the door, and is deflected upward and through the roof of
the house.

"If it isn't important, go away!" is shouted from
the house, "I'm in the middle of a case!"

"Put down the scotch and unlock the door, Leo. It
involves the security of all the clans, ally."

"Why should I listen to you? You may not be Eric, for all
I know..."

"If you don't, Queen Metalia will mop the galaxy with you.
It's that simple." The bolt on the door audibly unlatches,
and it opens to reveal a man with a .45 aimed right at Eric.

They all step in, Eric opting not to sit down, while the
ladies grabbed several seats or dropped to the floor, crosslegged.
"The thing is, that my sister-in-law's mentor, Queen Metalia,
seeks the destruction of this universe. She may seek to employ
the clans as "shocktroopers" against my armies. I don't
want that, and you don't want to see the clans annihalated, no?"

"I've lost several already. I don't want more. Tell me
how to stop her..."

"That technology is beyond your control. I can utilize
you, however, and give all the clans exactly what they want:
Terra, in a moderated fashion. Once the final battle begins,
there are going to be a LOT of panicky citizens, and the
militaries may try swatting the wrong side. Two Galaxies per clan,
spread in several "invasion areas", allowing them to
take the areas that were their founding bloodlines, back then.
Just realize, what you take control of has to be mediated and
held untill further notice.

"Go on."

"Once the battle is finished, Terra will be reintroduced
to the galactic scene, and all the clans can leave one
represenative planetside to represent their organization. The
MultiMages shall remove the trade blockades and the guard zones,
allowing you to trade with other planets. Leo, What I seek is a
rebirth of the Star League, the way it was 1000 years ago, before
the Inner Sphere was ripped apart by 3 succession wars. The
"second Periphery" will be disbanded and the guards
will find jobs elsewhere. Realize this, however, if you try for
Terra, not only will you have to face down several elite clusters
of crack MechWarriors, you'll have to answer to my empire. And
trust me, many of them are very protective of their origins."

"Sounds like a Plan. When can I get clearance to drop?"

"As soon as the shit starts flying. You can send your
units to the second line, but they'll have to wait there
temporarily for a go-ahead. The represenatives, however, can be
dropped at any time you can get them out to me."

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I'll see
what I can do."

"Aff. I'll send you an intel officer to make sure you
aren't succered by a rep from my sis." They exit, and start
back down the path to the shuttle.

"One question: have any of you seen the three Star Lights?
I haven't since I faced them near the Dome."

"Nope. Can't say I have, sir." Serena says, sounding
worried.

"But I have."

"Back so soon, Malachite?" Serena says.

"Aff. The Star lights were caught extremely fast once
they found a nice little trap set by Beryll herself. They are
currently in a Negaverse lockup, similar to your brigs. I'll see
about getting you the exact coordinates for their holding cell."

"Thank you Malachite. Once I have the coordinates, I'll
be in ASAP. Also, get me some info on the room size, adjacent
facilities, you know the routine."

"Aff." He disappears. They get back on the shuttle,
and take off for the Destenesu.

Once they arrive, they jump back to the space station, and
Eric transfers back to the floating ring. Once aboard, they gate
out to Earth.

************************************************************************************************
After They arrive back, Eric gives them an opprotunity to change
clothes back to what they started, but not a long one, as the
fireworks were slated to begin soon. "I wonder what kind of
fireworks we get to see. The skimpy display, like the mayor puts
on, or better?" Nina asks. "You won't have to worry
about that, Nina. When the Multimages party, we party big time.
Expect at least one bottle of Tequila to be passed around to you
at some time during this. And we won't be doing much tomorrow,
either. There'll be a LOT of hangovers." The Jagermechs,
Riflemen, vultures, and other assorted battlemechs begin to tromp
out into the backfields, where they will launch their salvos of
explosives into the air to dazzle viewers around the countryside
for many miles. The show in the distance is small, and the pilots
allow it to finish, before starting their own. All the mechs had
been loaded down with a c-3 Slave, allowing them to "chain"
their munitions into a dazzling display. The show commences,
drawing the attention of the entire city in that direction.
Untill now, everyone in the town assumed that there was someone
living out there was mere rumor; now it was confirmed. And they
were throwing a bigger block party than a very large city-their
city. Several times Gerard was called to get rid of civillians
who wanted a closer look. During the show, Serena didn't pay much
attention to her surroundings, except for one time, near the end
of the 2.5 hour display. She noticed Eric had not moved since the
beginning, but, the thing that got her was the look in his eyes.
The closest she could pin it was a look of deep sorrow combined
with inner thought. But she could not tell what would make him so
depressed in such a happy time as this.